Zipper pull

ABSTRACT

A zipper pull in which a rod having a head thereon adapted to engage a zipper tab is provided. The tab is clampable between two surfaces and the rod movable between a plurality of positions to permit easy insertion of the tab into the head and to permit the rod to be moved to a substantially vertical position to permit the zipper to be closed. In a second embodiment, the tab is placed in an opening in the head of the rod and the rod then moved to vertical position to permit the zipper to be closed.

United States Patent 1' 1 1 1111 3,836,189 Borrlli Sept. 17, 1974 ZIPPER PULL Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher [76] Inventor. Dominick Borrelh, 2243 Cropsey Assistant Examiner jeffrey v Nase Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. ll2l4 Attorney, Agent, or F1rm-B1erman & Bierman [22] Filed: Feb. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 329,178 57 T T A zipper pull in which a rod having a head thereon 294/1 24/205-15 294/19 adapted to engage a zipper tab is provided. The tab is [51] IIII. Cl A44b 19/00 lampable between two surfaces and the rod movable [58] Fleld o Sea c 294/1 19 between a plurality of positions to permit easy inser- 24/205-l5 263 16/110 tion of the tab into the head and to permit the rod to be moved to a substantially vertical position to permit References Clted the zipper to be closed. In a second embodiment, the UNITED STATES PATENTS tab is placed in an opening in the head of the rod and 2,900,205 8/1959 Cirone 294/1 A the rod then moved to vertical P'Jsition to permit the 2,974,991 3/1961 Gerrick 294/1 A pp 10 be Closed- 3,249,977 5/1966 Cloud 24/205.l5 H 3,276,087 10/1966 Hanson 294/19 R x 3 Clam, 6 Drawmg F'gures ZIPPER PULL This invention relates to zipper pulls of the type useful in opening and closing garments having zippers positioned on the rear of the garment.

In accordance with one embodiment of the instant invention, the zipper pull comprises a rod having a head mounted on one end thereof. The head in turn is composed of a plurality of facing jaws normally held apart and between which a zipper tab may be inserted. Means are provided for urging the jaws together to clamp the tab between the jaws and to permit the zipper to be moved either up or down to open or close the garment.

In another embodiment, the tab is placed in a slot provided at one end of the rod, When the rod is moved to a vertical position, sufficient force is placed on the tab to maintain it in the slot to permit up or down movement of the zipper.

Other and further advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the zipper pull of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a second isometric view of the zipper pull of FIG. 1 showing the zipper pull in operating position.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are isometric views of another embodiment of the zipper pull shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 and 6 are isometric views of still another embodiment of the instant invention.

The zipper pull shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown generally as a rod 10 having a forked end 12 in turn having two legs 14.

The rod head 16 as shown in a separate device comprising a pair of opposed jaws 18. The jaws 18 are moveably connected by plates 20, of which there are preferably four (two only shown). Each plate 20 has two openings therein 22 and 24 respectively, opening 24 being elongated to permit the upper jaw (or the lower jaw, if desired) to move towards the opposing aw.

The jaws 18 are normally kept apart a sufficient distance to permit insertion of zipper tab 26 between them. To keep jaws l8 apart, a spring 28 is mounted between the jaws 18. Conventional pins are used to mount the jaws to legs 14 of the fork 12, the legs each being provided with an opening 34 therein to accept the pins (See FIG. 3).

Since the fork 12 is moveably mounted with respect to jaw 18, the pins are preferably smooth and cylindrical and are capped at their outer ends to mount the fork 12 thereto but at the same time permit the fork 12 to be pivoted on the pins. A conventional rivet or screw having only a partially threaded shank can be effectively used to mount the plates and jaws to the fork 12.

As shown in the drawings, the rear surface 36 of the upper jaw 18 (as viewed in FIG. 1) is curved. The curved section 36 acts as a cam surface so that when rod 10 is flipped from the vertical position in FIG. 1 180 to the vertical position shown in FIG. 2, the inner surface 38 of the fork 12 will ride over surface 36 in contact therewith to urge jaws 18 towards each other to clamp zipper tab 26. Obviously, jaws 18 have a combined height in their closed state measured from pin 32 to the top of upper jaw 18 (as viewed in FIG. 1) approximately equal to the distance between the center of opening 34 in arm 14 to the inner surface 38 of fork 12. This assures that the jaws 18 will adequately clamp most if not all zippers in common use on the rear of most garments.

In use, the rod 10, which is preferably telescoping as shown by sections 40, 42 thereof, is generally held in the vertical position shown in FIG. 1, Le. pointing downwardly, to permit the zipper tab 26 to be inserted. Upon insertion, the rod 10 is flipped upwardly to the vertical position shown in FIG. 2 to clamp the zipper tab 26 between jaws 18. The zipper may now be moved upwardly or downwardly as desired.

To encourage more frequent use of the device, the opposing surface 44 of the upper jaw, as shown by dotted line in FIG. 1, may also be rounded so that zipper tab 26 may be inserted from either side.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the embodiment shown herein replaces springs 28 with a hinge 46 placed between jaws 19. The hinge 46 may be of plastic and integral with the jaws 19 to form a living hinge" conventionally known as such. Although a living hinge may be used. so may other devices such as a door hinge if desired. In the embodiment using a living hinge, plates 20 need not be used, since the living hinge will return to a preselected stress free position. Rivets 21 are used to limit the return movement of the jaws 19 to a preselected open position if desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the rod 10 is provided with a different type of rod head 48. Rod head 48 may be integrally made with rod section or simply mounted thereto by conventional means as a separate unit. Rod head 48 is provided with a slotted opening 50 which opening is made long enough to accept most tabs used on garment zippers today.

As shown, zipper tab 26 is inserted into opening 50. Although shown horizontally, rod 10 will actually be in the vertical position facing upwardly when used to close a zipper. As the rod is pulled upwardly, zipper tab 26 will be flipped upwardly until it contacts abutment surface 52. Abutment surface 52 prevents tab 26 from pulling out of opening 50 and provides sufficient support for the tab to permit the zipper to be closed. Opening or slot 50 is positioned below said abutment surface and recessed with respect to the abutment surface as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to permit the zipper tab to contact the abutment surface.

To open the zipper, the operation described above is repeated but with the rod held pointing vertically down.

Although the word vertically has been used herein, it is used in a directional rather than absolute sense. The rod in any embodiment described herein may be held substantially off the vertical position as long as sufficient holding force is generated to retain zipper tab 26 in the zipper pull.

It is intended to cover all modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A zipper pull comprising a rod having a head moveably mounted on one end of said rod being moveable into and out of contact with said head and said rod having an inner surface for contacting said head, said head comprising a pair of spaced apart jaws having facing surfaces large enough to accept at least a portion of the zipper tab therein, means for moveably connecting said jaws to each other, said jaws being moveable between a first position in which said jaws are in clamping relationship with said zipper tab and in which said inner surface is in contact with said head, and a second position in which said jaws are spaced apart to permit insertion and removal of said zipper tab from between the jaws, means for normally retaining said jaws in said second position, at least one of said jaws having a cam surface thereon, the inner surface of said rod being adapted to contact said cam surface to move said jaws to said first position.

2. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 wherein said rod has a fork end, said fork end comprising a pair of legs, said legs being moveably mounted to opposite sides of one said jaw, the innermost portion of said fork comprising said inner surface, the distance between the ends of the said legs and the innermost portion of the fork as measured along the longitudinal axes of the rod being sufficiently small to urge both jaws into clamping relationship with the zipper tab when the rod is moved to a position in which the longitudinal axis of said rod is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the opening between said jaws.

3. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 wherein said elongated rod comprises a plurality of telescoping sections.

4. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 wherein said rod is made of plastic.

5. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 wherein said rod is made of metal.

6. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 wherein said means for moveably connecting said jaws comprises a plurality of plates, each said plate having at least two openings therein, one of said openings being elongated, a plurality of fastening means for each of said plate equal in number to the number of said openings for fastening said plates to said jaws through said openings, the fastening means in said elongated opening permitting relative movement of the jaws towards each other.

7. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 further comprising at least one spring mounted between said jaws to normally keep said jaws spaced apart.

8. A zipper pull for opening and closing zippers on garments comprising a rod, said rod having a head fixedly mounted on one end thereof, said head having a raised abutment surface positioned between the rod and the end of said head furthest from said rod, a slotted opening for receiving a zipper tab therein, said slotted opening being located between the said abutment surface and the end of said head furthest from said rod, the portion of said head in which said slotted opening is located being recessed with respect to said abutment surface, said zipper tab contacting said abutment surface when said zipper is being opened and closed. 

1. A zipper pull comprising a rod having a head moveably mounted on one end of said rod being moveable into and out of contact with said head and said rod having an inner surface for contacting said head, said head comprising a pair of spaced apart jaws having facing surfaces large enough to accept at least a portion of the zipper tab therein, means for moveably connecting said jaws to each other, said jaws being moveable between a first position in which said jaws are in clamping relationship with said zipper tab and in which said inner surface is in contact with said head, and a second position in which said jaws are spaced apart to permit insertion and removal of said zipper tab from between the jaws, means for nOrmally retaining said jaws in said second position, at least one of said jaws having a cam surface thereon, the inner surface of said rod being adapted to contact said cam surface to move said jaws to said first position.
 2. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 wherein said rod has a fork end, said fork end comprising a pair of legs, said legs being moveably mounted to opposite sides of one said jaw, the innermost portion of said fork comprising said inner surface, the distance between the ends of the said legs and the innermost portion of the fork as measured along the longitudinal axes of the rod being sufficiently small to urge both jaws into clamping relationship with the zipper tab when the rod is moved to a position in which the longitudinal axis of said rod is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the opening between said jaws.
 3. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 wherein said elongated rod comprises a plurality of telescoping sections.
 4. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 wherein said rod is made of plastic.
 5. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 wherein said rod is made of metal.
 6. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 wherein said means for moveably connecting said jaws comprises a plurality of plates, each said plate having at least two openings therein, one of said openings being elongated, a plurality of fastening means for each of said plate equal in number to the number of said openings for fastening said plates to said jaws through said openings, the fastening means in said elongated opening permitting relative movement of the jaws towards each other.
 7. The zipper pull specified in claim 1 further comprising at least one spring mounted between said jaws to normally keep said jaws spaced apart.
 8. A zipper pull for opening and closing zippers on garments comprising a rod, said rod having a head fixedly mounted on one end thereof, said head having a raised abutment surface positioned between the rod and the end of said head furthest from said rod, a slotted opening for receiving a zipper tab therein, said slotted opening being located between the said abutment surface and the end of said head furthest from said rod, the portion of said head in which said slotted opening is located being recessed with respect to said abutment surface, said zipper tab contacting said abutment surface when said zipper is being opened and closed. 